Mash Pit is Pittnauer's fascinating, all-in take on a skin contact white wine, and it is a bit of a masterpiece of winemaking and blending. Made from Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc with some parcels matured in barrel and some not, it's a wild textural ride. It kicks off with a bit of herbs thanks to the Savvy, and then goes all yellow apples and grapefruit with a waft of herbal tea and then some proper grip. Crisp, but also tangy, this is a pretty amazing Austrian orange wine.

The Pittnauer story is a perfect adage of turning lemons into lemonade when, in the 1980s, Gerhard Pittnauer took over the family business when his father unexpectedly passed away, and the teenager was thrust into what would have been a daunting role. In addition, the Austrian wine industry was reeling from the ‘antifreeze scandal’ that occurred then. Rather than wallow in pity, Gerhard, now joined by his wife Brigitte, utilised their exceptional patch of prime Burgenland vines to produce what they call ‘living wines’, utilising biodynamic techniques and doing their best to let the land speak for itself. The winery today has several labels and incorporates all the native varieties of the region, Blaufränkisch, Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt and St Laurent, as well as less native varieties like Merlot and Chardonnay. Today, the Pittnauer family produce world-leading wines that are a shining light for Austria and their region.